Bulkhead for cars.



G. BOLLER @L S. K. CLEMENT.

BULKHBAD FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.18,1913.

Lyl Patented 0G13. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M @elige M0 Zien G. C. BOLLER & S. K. CLEMENT.

BULKHEAD FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.18.1913.

TVITXESSES:

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

DRNEY navman srs naar nance.

GEORGE CARL BOLLER AND STYLES K. CLEMENT, 0F LOOMIS, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 CHARLES-H. BLEMER AND ONE-FOURTH TO GEORGE W. BISBEE,

0F LOOMIS, GALIFQRNIA.

BULKHED FOR CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application inea March 1s, 1913. serial No. 755,164.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE C. BOLLER and STYLES K. CLEMENT, citizens of the United States, residing at Loomis, in the county of Placer and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bulkheads for Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bulkhead or partition for cars.

It is the object of this invention to provide a. bulkhead or partition for refrigera- ,tor cars and the like, by means of which boxes, crates, and similar articles, may be securely held in the car against displacement, and to provide a bulkhead which may be moved to cliiferent points in the car and clamped securely against boxes or crates.

A further object is to provide a bulkhead having vertical slats hinged at a convenient point bet-Ween their ends, to permit of the lower portion of the bulkhead being swung in relation to the upper portion thereof, and to so mount the slats that they may be adjusted horizontally in relation to each other to position them out of alinement with the vertical air spaces between the boxes or crates in the car. 4

Another object is to provide means for suspending the bulkhead, which is adapted to permit of the bulkhead being moved backward and forward lengthwise of the car, and to provide a simple and elicient means for locking the upper and lower sections of the bulkhead to the sides of the car, to lock the bulkhead against movement, and by means of which the bulkhead may be drawn tight against a stack of boxes, crates, or other articles.

A further object is to provide a bulkhead of the/above icharacter which is simple in construction, strong and durable.

The invention primarily resides in forming the bulkhead of horizontally disposed spaced parallel beams and a series of vertical slats adjustably mounted on the beams and hinged intermediate' their ends to form the bulkhead with a lower portion hinged in relation to an upper portion, and means for connecting the ends et the bulkhead to the sides of the car and orsupporting the bulkhead on movable carriages.

rlhe invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination ot parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross section of a car, showing the bulkhead in front elevation as applied. F ig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical section on the line X-X, Fig. 1, partly in elevation. F ig. 3 is a vertical section on the line Y-Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line Z-'Z of Fig. 2, partly in elevation.

In the drawings 2 indicates horizontally extending members or beams, which Vare adapted to extend transversely of a car 3. The beams 2 are here shown as formed of angle-irons and as arranged in pairs spaced a short distance apart. Rigidly mounted on the beams 2, adjacent their outer ends, are vertically disposed slats 4, and slidably mounted on the beams 2, between the end slats 4, ris a series of slats 5. The slats 4 and 5 are preferably formed of sheet metal channel-shaped in cross section, as shown in Fig. 4. The slidable connections between the vertical slats 5 and the horizontal beams 2 consist of tangs 6, which are struck from the slats 5 and extend over the vertical portion of the angle-iron beams 2, as par ticularly shown in Fig.`3; this construction admitting of the slats 5 being moved freely to dispose them at various distances apart on the beams 2. 'llhe slats 4 and 5, are divided at a suit-able point between the upper and lower pair of beams 2, the upper and lower portions of the slats 4 and 5 being `l'iingedly connected together by means of a pivot rod 7, which extends through interlocking lugs on the adjacent ends of the upper and lower portions of the slats 4 and 5 in such manner as to form a hinged connection which will permit of the lower portion of the bulkhead being swung vertically in relation to the.

Patented cet. ae, reas. l

upper portion, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The beams 2 are strengthened or reinforced by means of tension rods 8, secured at their ends tov lugs 9, carried by the beams 2, adjacent the end slats 4; the tension'rods, 8 passing over king-posts 10, mounted on the beams 2, as shown in Fig. 3. Mounted on the cuter ends ot the upper and lower beams 2, between the pair of an# gle-irons ct which the beams are formed, are.

rocker frames 11, which are pivotally mounted on pivot pins 12, carried by the beams 2; the rocker trame 11 constituting a lever, which is rocked as will be later described, and to the outer end of which is connected a iexi- )le member here shown as consisting of a chain 13, to the outer end of which a hook 14 is attached. The hook 14 is adapted to engage the walls of perforations 15 formed in plates 16, mounted on'the sides of the car 3. Formed in the rocker frames 11 are slots 17, through which threaded stems 13y flexible members are attached; the chains 22 being connected at their upper ends to carriages23,mounted to travel horizontally on rails 24, mounted on the sides of the car 3 adjacent its roof or ceiling. The chains 22 are provided Ias a means for suspending the bulkhead from the carriages 23, it being manifest that any other means for suspending the'v bulkhead from the carriages 23 may be provided if desired.

In Atheoperation of the invention a'series of tiers orv stacks of fruit, boxes, crates, and the like, are loaded in the car 3 and are arranged'therein in rows, extending laterally across the car'and longitudinally thereof, in the usual manner. When the desired number ofstacks have been placed in one end of the car,.tl 1e bulkhead is disposed in a vertii cal `positionr against the face of the outermost tier; the bulkhead being moved to the desired positionby means of the carriages 23 on the rails 24, which extend lengthwise y of the car. The slats 5 are then adjusted on the horizontal beams 2 to position them out of alinement with the vertical air spaces between the rows of stacked boxes; the slats 5 being readily moved from side to side ony the beams 2 and the pivot rod 7. The hooks 14 are then inserted in the slots 15 on the plates 16 ;A the nut 2O on the threaded stem 18 being screwed outwardly on the latter to permit of the rocking frame 11 being moved inwardly at itsouter end, and allow the hook 14 being engaged with the walls of the perforations 15. When all the hooks 14 on the ends of the upper and lower beams 2 are thus engaged with the plates 16, the nuts 20 are screwed on the threaded stems 18 to rock the rocker frames 11 on their pivot pins 12 1n such manner as to take up the slack in the chains 13, and when the chains 13 are taut, pull the bulkhead tightly against the rows of stacks or boxes therebehind, thus securely clamping the boxes against movement.

When it is desired to remove the bulkhead from the front of the stack of boxes, the nuts 20 are unscrewed to admit of the hooks 14 from. the perforations i 15 rl`he bulkhead may then be on its flexible connection being disengaged in the plates 16. swung upward with the carriages 23; the carriages 23 being moved backward on the tracks 24 to permitof the upper portion of the bulkhead being swung rearward over the top o f the stack of boxes. The lower portion ofthe bulkhead being hinged in'relation to the upper portion thereof permits of 4the bulkhead being thus withdrawn from a narrow space; the lower portion of the bulkhead retaining its vertical position as the upper portion is inclined and moved rearwardly.

When.y the bulkhead has been disposed horizontally in its uppermost position, the hooks 14 on the chains 18 are'v engaged with the railsl 24 to suspendv the bulkhead in a horizontal position from the'vrailsy 24. The hinged connect-ion between the' upper and lower portions of the slat'svj-,4' and 5 is such that the slats can Swingin:` a vertical pesi-f tion in one direction; shoulders 25 being formed adjacent the pivot rod7 to limit the pivotal movement of one portion of the slats 4 and 5 in relation to the other, so that the slats 4 and 5 may be disposed in a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

By the use of this invention, a4 car 3 may' be loaded with boxes, crates, andthe like, for any desired portion ,of its length, and the boxes held securely against movement by clamping the bulkhead` thereagainst, as described.' This enables vthe shipper to load a lfraction of a carload,and admits of a portion of the shipmentbeing delivered at various points; the bulkhead being swung against the ceiling of .the car when it is desired to remove part of the shipment, and then restored to its clamping position against thedoutermost tiers of the remainder of the loa If there is suiiicient clear space in front of the stacked boxes, the bulkhead may be swung forwardly on its suspending connections instead of being moved rearwardly, as previously described.

As a means for preventing the bulkhead from rising when clamped against a tie-r of boxes, the lower ends of the slats 4 and 5 are bent inwardly to form -projections 4 which are adapted to catch under the stack of boxes piled next to the bulkhead; the weight of the boxes thus resistingany tendency of the bulkhead to move. in an upward direction.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and ent is:

1. An adjustable bulkhead for cars comprising parallel beams, end slats to which the beams are -rigidly attached, a series of slats carried by the beams between the end slats, and tangs on the slats engaging the beams to form a sldable connection therewith.

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desire to secure by Letters Paty 2. A bulkhead for cars comprising spaced parallel horizontally disposed angle-iron beams, end slats connecting the beams adjacent their ends, a series of intermediate slats, tangs on said slats slidably engaging the vertical leaf of the angle iron beams, and hinged joints formed in the slats to allow the lower portion of the slats to be swung in relation to their upper portion. f

3. A bulkhead for cars comprising spaced parallel horizontally disposed angle iron beams, tension rods secured at their ends to the beams, king-posts on the beams intermediate their ends over which the tension rods pass, end slats connecting the beams adjacent their ends, a series of intermediate slats, tangs ou said slats slidably engaging t-he vertical leaf of the angle iron beams, and hinged joints formed in the slats to allow the lower portion of the slats to be swung in relation to their upper portion.

4. An adjustable bulkhead for cars comprising parallel beams, end slats connecting the beams, intermediate slats slidably attached to the beams, means for suspending the beams, rocking Aframes on the ends of the beams, hooks carried by said rocking members, stationary plates formed with perforations engageable by said hooks, and means for rocking and locking said frames to exert a pull on the hooks and plates acting to move the bulkhead rearwardly.

5. An adjustable bulkhead for cars comprising parallel beams, end sla-ts connecting the beams, intermediate slats slidably attached to the beams, means for suspending the beams, rocking frames on the ends of the beams, hooks carried by said rocking members, stationary plates formed with perforations engageable by said hooks, a threaded stem on the beams, and a nut on said stem engageable with the rocking frame and adapted to rock the latter to exert a pull on the hooks and plates when screwed on the threaded stem and cause the bulkhead to move rearwardly.

6. An adjustable bulkhead for cars comprising parallel beams, end slats connecting the beams, intermediate slats slidably attached to the beams, means for suspending the beams, rocking frames on the ends of the beams, hooks carried by said rocking members, stationary plates formed with perforations engageable by said hooks, a threaded stem on the beams, a nut on said stem engageable with the rocking frame and adapted to rock the latter to exert a pull on the hooks and plates when screwed on the threaded stem and cause the bulkhead to move rearwardly, and means for pivotally suspending the bulkhead and pivotal joints formed in the stationary and slidable slats to permit of swinging movement of the lower portion of the bulkhead in relation to its upper portion.

7. ln an adjustable bulkhead for cars, the combination of a pair of carriages mounted to travel lengthwise of a car, a horizontal beam pivotally suspended from said carriages eX- tending transverse of the car, end slats rigidly secured to said beam, a second beam carried by said slats, a series of intermediate slats slidably mounted on said beams for lateral adjustment, alined pivot joints formed in the intermediate and end slats between the beams, hooks on the ends of the beams, means on the car engageableby the hooks to hold the bulkhead formed by the slats and beams in a vertical position, and screw elements coperating with the hooks and beams by which the bulkhead may be pulled rearwardly.

8. An adjustable bulkhead for cars comprising parallel beams, end slats to which the beams are rigidly att-ached, a series of slats slidably mounted on the beams between the end slats, and projections on said slats engageable with a stack of crates adjacent the bulkhead.

9. An adjustable bulkhead for cars comprising parallel beams, end slats connecting the beams, adjustable means for connecting tached to the beams', means for suspending the beams, adjustable means for connecting the ends of the beams to clamp the bulkhead against a stack of crates under pressure, and means engageable with the stack of crates to prevent vertical movement of the bulkhead.

ln testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Gnonen CARL Bomann. srrnns n. CLEMENT.

Witnesses:

PATRICK DUNN, A. S. MARTINDALE. 

